Child&#39;s vehicle



" July 21, 1925. 1,546,797

C. SCHMlERS CHILDS VEHICLE Filed J x3e 2 1925 Curt Schmiers Patented July 21, 1925.

UNITED STATES CURT SCHMIEBS, OF WHITEWA'IER, WISCONSIN.

cnrnns vnnronn Application filed June 25, 1923. Serial No. 647,581.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Cum SOHMIERS, a citizen of the United States, and resident of "Whitewater, in the county of VValworth and State of lVisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Childrerfs Vehicles; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact descrip tion thereof. i V v This invention relates to toys, and is particularly directed to a vehicle adapted to be propelled by foot power. A 1

Ob'ects of this invention are to provide a toy which is adapted to support the operator and permit him to propel and steer the apparatus, to provide a device so constructed that it simulates an aeroplane in its general contour, to provide an apparatusin which the steering is accomplished by extremely simple means, and to provide an apparatus in which the wings are hingedly mounted upon the sides of the body portion and so organized that they may be readily folded downwardly to permit easy transporting or storing of the apparatus. 7

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal, sectional view through the apparatus. 1 t

Figure 2 is a bottom View of the device.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 4L-l of Figure 3.

The apparatus comprises a body portion 1 formed. from sheet metal and pressed into shape so as to provide a rounded back portion tapering towards the front and rear, and downwardly extending marginal flanges, the margins of the entire device being preferably beaded, as indicated at 2, so as to provide finished edges. An upstanding cockpit 3 is provided, which may be integral with the body portion 1, as shown in the drawings, or separate therefrom and riveted thereto. This cockpit has an upper beaded edge l to give a finished appearance and to protect the occupant from damage from the raw edges of the sheet metal. The upward end of the body portion extends across the bottom, as indicated at 5, and

houses a block 6 of any suitable material,

ing screw 7 is passed and revolubly supports a propeller 8.

pair of main wings 9 are hingedly mounted upon the sides of the bod portion, as may be seen from Figure 3. convenient way of securing this pivotal mounting is by forming an upstruck portion 10 upon the body and providing alined apertures upon opposite sides thereof. -These apertures are adapted to receive the hooked ends 11 of the reinforcing rod 12 for the marginal bead of the wings, such rod being conveniently extended beyond the beaded edge and bent inwardly as shown in Figure 4. In order to support the wings temporarily .in an outwardly extending position, a'similarly formed upstruck portion 13 is provided for each wing and constitutes a hinged bearing for the rod or strut ll. The inner end 1 of the rod, as indicated at 15, is provided with a hook or bent end which hooks into an apertured lug 16 carried by the body portion and is adapted to be removed therefrom to permit the downward folding of the wings, as indicated in dotted llnes in Figure 3. A second smaller pair 'of wings 17 are provided adjacent the rear portionof the de vice and project a slight distance outwardly from the body portion.

A longitudinally extending bracing'strip 18 is riveted to the under side of the body portion and extends forwardly to the edge of the cockpit. At this point it is offset, as indicated at 19 in Figures 1 and 2, and

supports an upholstered seat 20. A transverse brace strip 21 is riveted at its central portion to the outer end of the portion 19 of the bracing strip and is preferably arouate, as shown in Figure 2. Its ends are riveted to the sides o f'the body portion. The strips 19 and 21 form a secure support for the seat.

The device is carried by a running gear consisting of a rear wheel 22 carried by a fork 23 rigidly secured to the under side of the strip 18, as may be seen from Figure 1. The forward portion of the apparatus is provided with a bearing plate 2% which may be secured to an extension of the block 6, if desired. This bearing plate has pivotally secured thereto by means of a king bolt 25 the transverse portion of the fork 26 for the front wheels. This transverse portion 1s rigidly secured to a rearward extension 27 which projects upwardly at a slight angle and forms the steering post 28 for a. hand wheel 29. A pair of front wheels 30 are rigidly mounted upon a transverse shaft 31 carried by the fork 26 and provided with, offset or crank portions 32 adapted to receive the feet of the operator.

It will be seen that the operator may readily seat himself upon the upholstered seat 20 with his feet projecting downwardly through the device and resting upon the cranks 32, whereby propulsive motion may be given the device. The steering is accomplished by rocking motion of the hand wheel which closely approximates a twisting motion thereof as the hand wheel is rigidly secured to the stem 28 and such stem is in turn rigidly secured to the fork 26. f desired the channel bearing plate 24 may have its rear flange cut out to provide stops to limit the rocking motion of the portion 27 of the hand wheel stem.

It will be seen that a toy has been providcd which simulates in appearance an aeroplane, which may be readily operated. by a child, and which is of extremely simple and sturdy construction.

It will further be seen that due to the hinged mounting of the wings, when the device is not in use, the wings may be readily folded downwardly against the body portion and thus facilitate storing or transporting of the device.

Although one form of the invention has been described in considerable detail, it is to be understood that the invention may be variously embodied and is to be limited only as claimed.

I claim 1. A childs vehicle having a body portion simulating in appearance an aeroplane, a rear supporting wheel, a pivot pin, a forward fork pivotally mounted on said pin, a pair of wheels carried thereby, a pedal means for operating said wheels, a steering wheel offset from the pivot pin of said fork and rigidly attached thereto, said body portion including a pair of pivotally mounted wings adapted to be folded downwardly when not in use.

2. A childs vehicle comprising a body portion formed of pressed sheet metal and having a central opening and an upstanding cockpit surrounding said opening, a seat positioned within said opening, wings pivotally carried by the outer portion of said body and adapted to be rocked into outwardly projecting position or to be folded downwardly against said body portion, a rear supporting wheel, a forward fork pivotally joined to said body portion, a transverse shaft provided with cranks carried by said fork, a pair of wheels rigidly secured to said shaft, and steering means projecting laterally from said fork and upwardly through said cockpit.

3. A device of the class described comprising a body portion formed of pressed sheet metal and having an approximately centrally located aperture, a cockpit extending upwardly adjacent said aperture, a longitudinally extending reinforcing strap secured to the under side of said body portion and projecting into said aperture, a cross strap secured to said body portion and to said longitudinal strap and projecting across said aperture, a seat carried by said straps and located within said aperture, a rear wheel having a supporting fork secured to said longitudinal strap, a forwardly positioned pair of wheels, a shaft provided with cranks and rigidly secured to said wheels, a fork mounted upon said shaft and pivotally engaging said body portion, means for rocking said fork, a reinforcement positioned within the. forward portion of said body, and a propeller pivotally sup ported from said reinforcement.

In testimony that I claim. the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at lVhit-ewater, in the county of Walworth and State of lVisconsin.

CURT SCHMIERS. 

